Chapter 6 - The Dark Auction

This slash was both swift and vicious, almost as if drilled countless times already.

Lu Sheng's body reacted instinctively on its own.

He saw the pouncing shadow behind him, the shadow lunging over, sliced by his blade mid-flight.

The ricocheting sensation of toughness and solidity through the blade, along with the tremendous momentum, sent that shadow whipping aside fiercely with the cleaver saber.

Thud!

The shadow slammed onto the ground, tumbling several rolls with pained whimpers. Illuminated by the torchlight, it was shockingly a wolf! Its waist ripped open by an immense cleaving gash.

Before he could think further, Lu Sheng spotted two more wolves darting over from both flanks under the veil of darkness.

His body responded ahead of his mind once more.

Propping the cleaver sideways to the left, he blocked a wolf with the shaft, then spun and flung it into the other incoming one.

Bang!

Exerting such strength twice sapped his stamina quite critically in one go.

After all, he had still been a frail young master not long ago.

The two wolves yelped painfully as well, tossed far away.

Gasping ruggedly for breath, Lu Sheng's eyes reddened as he raised his blade, unleashing directly at the nearest wolf - Tiger Death!

The blade cleaved top-down, tilting slightly. His wrist quaked violently at the frequency depicted in the heart method, resonating thrice in succession.

Whoosh!

The air seemed to swell with an indistinct tiger's roar.

The two wolves shuddered frightenedly. Their momentum slowed fatally.

Abruptly, the cleaver glinted coldly. One wolf's head was lopped clean off instantly.

The other was also grazed slightly at its neck by the saber tip, blood swiftly seeping out.

Mustering his strength, Lu Sheng employed another slash, Tiger Might this time!

His forearm vibrated four times, erupting four different forces that converged with full body power unto the blade.

Tiger Might emphasized speed over Tiger Death, strength moderately weaker. But it was still beyond what the wolves' frail necks could withstand.

Before the wolf could evade, the abruptly spiking velocity of the cleaver hacked ruthlessly into its neck.

Puchi!

The wolf head toppled off...

Gulping hurried mouthfuls of air, traces of perspiration also oozed out over Lu Sheng's face.

Performing these intense moves continuously had drained him hugely.

Yip...

One wolf remained, precisely the one from earlier that snatched the meat.

It stalked out from behind the stones now, baleful green eyes glaring fiercely at Lu Sheng.

"Still too physically weak after all..."

Impatience swelled faintly in Lu Sheng's heart.

But his expression was unperturbed. He knew when confronting beasts, one absolutely could not retreat or display fear.

"Hmph!"

He bulged his eyes wide, staring relentlessly at the wolf.

The final wolf observed him fixedly for a while before slowly retreating backwards.

Only after that wolf had completely withdrawn into the darkness did Lu Sheng finally heave an immense sigh of relief.

Truthfully, his stamina was nearly depleted. Both arms limp and sore, even grasping his blade somewhat unsteady.

If that wolf had truly pounced over, though confident he could survive, injuries would definitely occur.

After ensuring the wolf's definite departure, Lu Sheng yanked out his torch and rushed hastily towards Jiu Lian Cheng.

Seeing the fiery lights atop the enclosing walls when the county gates entered view, the anxiety in his heart also gently unclenched.

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Bundling up his clothes to conceal the bloodstained areas, he hid away his cleaver saber and fetched out his county permit, striding big steps towards the gates.

...

"Bro Sheng, bro Sheng, hear me out! This item is no mundane thing. I had it delivered specially from Zi Hua Cheng the moment I arrived.

It's reputed to be the foremost wondrous stone in the central plains. Countless wealthy merchants and nobles vied intensely to purchase it. During an unexpected turn of events, it fell into a river, got washed by rapids all the way down Zi Hua River, before being dredged up eventually by Zi Hua Cheng's fishermen.

The convoluted story behind it is hard to tell completely...had it not been..."

"Do I look like an idiot to you?" Lu Sheng waved his folding fan lightly, facing the fatso before him with a faint smile.

This fatty was called Zheng Xian Gu, second son of the boss of Ming Gu auction house in Jiu Lian Cheng.

He was also Lu Sheng's best buddy since childhood.

Having grown up together like a pair of pants, their wavelength aligned perfectly. Helping each other handle things, their friendship was ironclad.

Except this Zheng Xian Gu had one fatal flaw.

He was money grubbing.

As he would say, even sworn brothers must keep clear accounts, otherwise feelings get wounded eventually.

The two of them were seated inside the peony private room at Jin Yu Restaurant. The fatty had an elegant slender beauty snuggled under his arm.

Right now, he was staring at Lu Sheng with a twisted bitter expression.

"Bro Sheng, that's where you're mistaken. Me your brother finally obtained such a rare wonder. Giving you priority bidding opportunity out of internal privilege. Yet you not only don't cherish it, you even mock me instead?"

Fatty pointed at Lu Sheng looking utterly self-righteous.

"Enough nonsense. Keep your tricks. Any news about the martial arts manuals I want?"

Lu Sheng asked directly.

His purpose in looking up his old buddy was purely to gather more martial arts secret manuals.

One Black Tiger blade method was far from sufficient. Nowhere nearly enough!

He had properly grasped uncle Zhao's rough odds self-preserving in the wilderness now.

No wonder he never heard of anyone traveling solo over long distances. These desolate borderlands were brimming with fierce beasts. Setting off alone was seeking death.

Even the famed Zhao Da Hu within Jiu Lian Cheng could only handle three wolves alone at most, four wolves was likely his limit. Any more and even acclaimed experts of Jiu Lian Cheng would have to kneel.

"These martial arts manuals, not only are genuineness difficult to verify, many contain hidden traps too. Some practice methods, the tiniest carelessness during training over long periods often induces lifelong crippling even if truly authentic.

Bro Sheng, what do you need those for anyway? Without guidance from a master, purchased manuals are quite useless."

Zheng Xian Gu stroked his white jade thumb ring curiously.

"You sure comprehended that properly." Lu Sheng laughed. "Naturally I have my own uses. Don't mind so much. First pass me a few copies to browse through."

Zheng Xian Gu shook his neck.

"Indeed available, recent new consignments by a client contain two martial arts secret manuals.

We found masters to authenticate them, should be genuine copies. Just that no one dares practice without guidance."

"Asking price?"

Lu Sheng asked straightaway.

"Ah, bro Sheng, aren't we supposed to be brothers? Why still stand on ceremony?" Zheng Xian Gu coquetted with a charming smile.

"Can you cut out that disgusting nonsense?" Lu Sheng was rendered speechless. "Just name a number, make it quick. I'm in a rush."

"Can only sell you one copy. The other is already reserved by another esteemed customer."

Zheng Xian Gu beamed.

"One will do. Have you brought it over?" Lu Sheng raised a brow.

"As expected, bro Sheng understands me well!"

Reaching into his garb, Zheng Xian Gu retrieved a thin gray cloth booklet.

"This manual does not contain much techniques, just a kind of specialized energy maneuver. Asking price, one hundred taels straight!"

"Let me see it first."

Lu Sheng extended his hand.

One hundred taels was a million bucks. This fatty sure dared to casually quote.

The fatty giggled twice, placing the booklet in his palm.

Accepting the manual, Lu Sheng pored through it closely.

This seemed a small torn portion extracted from some greater compilation. By chance, it contained only instructions on directing power.

According to the records inside, the cultivated energy was labeled Smashing Jade Force.

Supposedly upon grand mastery, one could accumulate full body power from the initial moment of striking out. Having amassed completely, erupting fiercely could vastly amplify striking speed and power.

Lu Sheng took a look. Its methods appeared non-overlapping with the Black Tiger heart method, should be stackable.

But this was not what he wanted.

He desired those legendary inner family energy cultivation techniques that could fortify one's constitution and soul.

Judging from the aftermath suffering just one modification session via his device, boosting his constitution was critical for reducing side effects when modifying in future.

"Any news on those fabled inner family energy cultivation manuals?"

"Inner family energy cultivation manuals?"

Zheng Xian Gu stroked his chin ponderedly.

"Bro Sheng, you've stumped me proper now. If such things truly circulated in the markets, genuine or not, they'd get snapped up in a blink."

"Your family stash should contain some transcribed copies right?"

Lu Sheng also understood matters clearly. For auction houses peddling stuff like secret manuals, they would surely retain transcribed replicas as archived records.

With the Zheng family auction house operating so long, their accumulated archives were surely no small amount.

"Those copies...bro Sheng. Even I can't guarantee which if any are genuine.

One in a hundred would be impressive if real. No one has managed to cultivate inner energy from them so far. You sure?"

Zheng Xian Gu hesitated.

"I advise you brother. Don't mess with those copies. In case problems crop up that wreck your health beyond salvation."

"Can you find a way to arrange my participation?"

Lu Sheng's brows raised sharply. He was familiar with fatty's expressions. Whenever he revealed this look, it meant having ideas inwardly but hesitant on whether he should speak up about them or not.

"Actually there are ways...the manuals bro Sheng wants, our upcoming auction does contain one such example..."

Zheng Xian Gu's mien showcased slight awkwardness.

"Why not say so earlier?" Lu Sheng cocked his brows.

"It's not unwillingness to inform my brother. That item is slated for the Dark Auction..." Zheng Xian Gu said helplessly.

"Dark Auction?"

Lu Sheng understood instantly.

The Dark Auction referred to the anonymous bidding events where all participating patrons concealed their faces and names. Most merchandise auctioned tended to the shady, some even bloodstained.

Most drawn to such Dark Auctions were desperadoes and sinister parties.

"Can it be arranged for me to participate?"

But Lu Sheng had determined to attend nonetheless.

Ordinary thugs wouldn't dare provoke the Lu family either.

The Lu household had thirty to forty brawny guards alone. Within their family grounds, masters on uncle Zhao's level also numbered a few.

Furthermore, Lord Lu Zhan the Elder still retained deep ties all over the official county offices. If necessary, they could even marshal the county military forces for assistance.

Thus truly, an eminent household of their standing was simply unafraid of mundane brigands.